Metal-working press



Aug. 19, 1930. F. J. RODE 1,773,548

METAL WORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 16, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 Sheets- Sheet2 F. J. RODE METAL WORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 16, 1929 Y Q a g ETWWWI WAug. 19, 1930.

Aug. 19, 1930. F. J. 'RODE 1,773,548

METAL WORKING PRESS Filed Aug. 16, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug.19, 1933 FREDRICH J. RODE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS mn'ranwonxme rnnssApplication filed August 16, 1929. Serial No. 386,409.

This invention relates in general to metal working presses, particularlyadapted, though not necessarily liinitedin its use, in connection withsheet metal die presses in which the work is operated upon between twocooperating dies, one of which is reciprocable 5 toward and away fromthe other.

It is sometimes desirable and at other times necessary to adjust or varywhat is generally known as the die space of the press, that is thespacebetween the bed of the press and the reciprocating ram. This has usuallybeen accomplished by providing an adjustment in the connecting rod ofthe press which is 10- 5 cated between the rain and the "crank shaft.While good results may be accomplished with such construction, theresults are not entirely satisfactory for many reasons, among them beingthat the degree of adjustment is limited and considerable time and laboris required.

Furthermore, with the usual construction considerable damage oftenresults when the ram is interrupted in the full extent of the movementthereof to which it has been adjusted.

It is one of the objects of thepresent invention to provide in a pressof this character improved means whereby a high die space an adjustmentmay be readily obtained without the usual adjustment in the connectingrod of the press. A further object is to provide improved means wherebythe connecting rod will be arranged between two slides, one above andone below the connecting rod, the slides being connected together in amanner that thestress exerted upon the connecting screws between theslides will be distributed to and exerted perpendicularly or in astraight line upon the threads of the connecting screws and notdiagonally as heretofore, thereby avoiding stripping and breaking ofthe'thre'ads, and

at the same time through the medium of such screwsor connections therewill'be' provided four points of power distribution, upon the ram,instead of a single point of pressure as now employed.

A further object is to provide improved safety means for determining theload upon the press and which safety means will, under abnormalconditions, yield to prevent damage to the parts of the, press.

To the attainment of these ends and the ac complishment of other new anduseful obj ects as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in substantially the construction, combination andarrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described andclaimed and shown in the accom-- panying drawings illustrating thisinvention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press of thischaracter constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 33, Figure2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4:, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 55, Figure1.

view taken,

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 desi natesgenerally the bed of a press of any desired or-suitable constructionupon which a die 11 is mounted. Rising above the bed plate 10 are spaced11prights 12 and journaled in suitable bearings v 13 is a crank shaft 14having a crank arm 15. The crank shaft is rotated in any suitable mannersuch as by'means of a gear 16 with which another gear 17 meshes and thisgear 17 is connected with a shaft 18 having a fly wheel 19 and fast andloose pulleys 20-21 thereon.

If desired a brake band pulley 22 may be provided on the crank shaftwith which a suitable control brake band 23 co-operates.

All of the above referred to parts are of the ordinary and well knownconstruction.

- Mounted to slide between suitable guides 24 on the uprights 12 is aram 25 which has connected with it a die 26 that co-operates with thedie 11 and between which dies the work 27 to be operated upon isarranged.

'The ram 25 is provided with pro ecting portions 28 which move betweenthe respective guides 24 and the ram is provided with ber of which maybe provided, preferably four.

Rotatably' mounted in each of the bearings 29 is one end of an uprightshaft 30, each of the shafts being threaded as at 31 at one end thereof.The other end of each of these shafts is provided with a shoulder 32seated in a recess or socket 33 of the bearing 29. A nut or member 34encompasses the shaft and is threaded into the socket or recess 33 toengage the upper portion of the shoulder32 and to co-operate with theseat 33 for holding the shaft against longitudinal displacement butsupporting the same for free rotation in the bearing.

The extremity 35 of each of the shafts 30 projects beyond the respectivebearings 29 and connected to the projecting end thereof is a collar 36,ball bearings 37 being disposed between the collar 36 and the face ofthe bearing 29 so as to facilitate rotation of the respective shafts 30in their bearings.

Connected with the crank 15 of the shaft 14 is a connecting rod 38having a semi-circular bearing 39 in which the crank 15 rests. A capmember 40 having a semi-circular bearing therein cooperates with thebearing member 39 and these parts are secured together by means of boltsor fastening devices 41. any number of which may be provided. Thesefastening devices are preferably each provided with a head 42 whichrests against one of the bearing members and a nut or collar 43 threadedupon the other end thereof to rest against the other bearing member forclamping these parts together. These fastening devices 41 are eachprovided with a weakened portion 44 adapted under normal conditions tohold the bearing members in cooperative relation but under abnormalconditions to break or become destroyed so as to permit the bearingmembers 3940 to separate.

Any suitable means may be provided for yieldingly holding the bearingmember 40 from dropping out of position when the fastening members 41have been destroyed. A suitable and efiicient means, however, embodies abolt or member 45 which passesloosely through the bearing member 39 andis threaded into or otherwise attached to the bearing member 40 as at46. A recess 47 is provided in the bearing member 39 through which themember 45 passes, and is of a diameter considerably larger than thediameter of said member so that a coiled spring 48 which encompasses themember 45 will enter the socket, one end of'the spring resting upon thebottom of the socket and the other engaging-"a shoulder or head 49 onthe member 45.

The stress of the springs 48 is such that it will maintain the bearingmember 40 against dropping out of position when the members 41 aredestroyed.

Any suitable number of these supporting means may be provided.

The connecting rod 38 may be of any desired configuration but ispreferably bifurcated at its free end so that the arms of thebifurcation will enter suitable recesses 50 on opposite sides of a web51 in a head or member 52 and a pin 53 loosely connects the ends of theconnecting rod 38 with the head or member 52.

A portion of the head 52 may be reduced as at 54 to form bearingsmovable in guideways 55 on the uprights 12 so that as the crank 15 isrotated the head or member 52 will be reciprocated in the guides 55.

The head or member 52 is provided with a plurality of split threadedbearings 56, one for the threaded ends of each of the upright shafts 30,and through which bearings the shafts 30 pass so that the threads on there: spective shafts will have engagement with the threads in therespective bearings 56.

Fastening devices 57 are provided for clamping the bearings about therespective shafts.

Thus it will be seen that when the crank shaft 14 is rotated areciprocatory movement will be imparted to the member or head 52 and asthis head or member 52 is connected with the ram 25 through the mediumof the threaded rods or shafts 36 the ram will be this abnormalcondition, considerable dam-.

age will result. Therefore, the cap 40 being supported in position bythe fragile or dest-ructible fastening member 41 will permit or causethis abnormal condition to be overcome. With this construction it willbe manifest that as soon as the ram is arrested in its movement thecrank 15 will continue to rotate and will exert an abnormal stress uponthe member 40 of the crank bearing. This stress, however, will-beovercome by reason of the fact that under such conditions and when thecrank 15 rotates further, it will exerta suflicient stress upon themember 40 of the crank bearing to destroy or break the fastening members41, thereby causing the cap member 40 to yield.

When the members 41 are destroyed, the cap member 40 will be heldagainst dropping out of position by the springs 48 and co-oper atingmember 45'. The springs 40 will yield so as to permit the cap 40 of thecrank bearing to yield sulficiently to permit the crank 15 to completeits cycle of rotation.

When it is desired to vary the die space by adjusting the ram withrespect to the crank 15, itis only necessary to rotate the shafts 30 andas these shafts are rotated and by reason of their threaded connectionwith the head or reciprocating member 52 it will be manifest that theram will be raised or lowered with respect to such head according to thedirection of rotation of the shafts 31.

Any suitable means may be provided for thus adjusting these parts, andthis may be accomplished either by hand or by power.

To that end there may be provided a motor 58 mounted upon a suitablesupport 59 on the press. The motor may be controlled by means ofasuitable switch 60.

Connected with the shaft of the motor is a gear61 which meshes with agear 62 journaled in a suitable bearing 63.

An upright shaft 64; passes loosely through the gear 62 and is'connected thereto for rotation therewith but for longitudinaladjust--ment with respect to the gear 62 preferably by means of a featherconnection 65.

The lower end of the shaft 64 is ournaled in a suitable bearing 66 andconnected with the shaft 64 for rotation therewith is a gear 67 whichmeshes with a gear 68 secured to a shaft 69'for rotation therewith, theshaft 69 being journaled in suitable bearings 7 0 mounted by and carriedwith the ram 25.

Connected with each 'of the shafts 30 for I rotation therewith are gears71preferably of the worm type. Connected also with the shaft 69 forrotation therewith are gears 72 also preferably of the worm type. Eachof the gears 72 is arranged between arid meshes with the gears 71 of apair of shafts 30 and the connecting gears on the respective shafts areso arranged that the shafts when rotated will rotate in the samedirection.

Thus it will be seen that when the motor 58 is rotated the gear 62 andshaft 64 will be rotated. This .rotary motion will be communicatedthrough the intermeshing gears 6768 to the shaft 69 and from the shaft69 through the respective intermeshing gears 72-71 to the shafts 30iorrotating the latter, so that the ram 25 may be adjusted with respect tothe crank shaft 14.

If desired and in order to provide a manual adjustment forthe ram, themotor 58 may be dispensed with, or when the motor is idle the shaft 69may be rotated by means of a suitable crank or tool adapted to beconnected with the end 73 of the shaft 69.

With this improved construction it' will.

be manifest that the desired adjustment of the die space in the pressmay be obtained and furthermore the press will be maintained againstinjury under any abnormal condition or any excess resistance pressureexerted upon the ram by reason of-the fragile or breakable connectingpins or members 41 between thg bearing members 3940.

By the provision of the four shafts 30 and thearrangement of theconnecting rod between the ram and the reciprocable head or slide 52there will be an equal distribution of the stress upon all of thethreaded shafts 30 1n a perpendicular direction or straight line,thereby avoiding the diagonal strain heretofore produced when theadjustment means is provided in the connecting rod of the press, andwith the present invention all danger of breaking the screws orstripping the threads A maintained in its originally set position withrespect to the work-supporting surface in every position of the ramduring the cycle of operation of the press. This is advantageous becauseit renders it possible to place dies in any position under the ram, andthe stress exerted by the bringing together by the male and femalemembers of the die so placed, will not permit the lower surface of theram to be tilted or moved out of a horizontal position.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 2-- 1. A press of the character describedembodying a crank shaft, a,reciprocable ram, means connecting the ramwith the crank shaft, means whereby the ram may be adjusted with respectto the crank shaft while the extent of throw of the ram by the crankshaft remains constant, a portion of said crank being sectional, andmeans destructible under abnormal working conditions of the presswhereby said sections will yield, one with respect to the other.

2. A press of the character described emon one side of the shaft, aconnecting rod be tween said shaft and member, a reciprocable ram on theother side of the crank shaft, and

means connecting said ram with said member for adjustment with respectthereto, whereby theposition of the ram with respect to said member maybe varied while the extent of throw of the ram by said crank remainsconstant.

3. A press of the character described embodying a crank shaft, areciprocable member on one side of the shaft, a connecting rod between,said shaft and member, a reciprocable ram on the other side of thecrankshaft,

means connecting said ram with said member for adjustment with respectthereto, whereby the position of the ram with respect to said member maybe varied while the extent of throw of the ram by said crank remainsconstant, and means for adjusting the ram with respect to said member atwill.

4. A press of the character described embodying. a crank shaft, areciprocable member, a connecting rod between said member and crankshaft, a reciprocable ram, and upright reciprocable screws carried withsaid ram. and having threaded connection with said member, whereby saidram and said member may be relatively adjusted one towards and away fromthe other,-to vary the relative positions of the ram and member whilethe extent of throw of the ram by said crank shaft remains constant,said crank and connecting rod being disposed between the ram andsaidreciprocating member.

5. A press of the character described em bodying a crank shaft, areciprocable member on one side of the shaft, a connecting rod betweenthe shaft and member, a reciprocable ram on the other side of the crankshaft, vertically disposed rods forming connections between said ram andmember and being rotatably supported by one and having threadedconnection with the other, whereby the relative position of the ram andmember may be varied while a fixed throw of the ram by said crankshaftwill be maintained, and means for rotating said vertical rods.

6. A press of the character described embodying a crank shaft, areciprocable member on one side of the shaft, a connecting rod betweenthe shaft and member, a reciprocable ram on the other side of the crankshaft, vertically disposed rods forming connections between said r-amand member and being rotatably supported by one and having threadedconnection with the other, whereby the relative position of the ram andmember may be varied while a fixed throw of the ram by said crank shaftwill be maintained, and means common to said vertical rods forsimultaneously rotating them.

7 A press of the character described embodying a crank shaft. areciprocable member on one side of the shaft, a connecting rod betweensaid member and shaft, a reciprocable ram on the other side of the crankshaft, vertical suspension rods connecting the ram with said member,said rods being rotatably supported by one and having threadedconnection with the other, whereby the position of said ram with respectto said member may be varied, and means for rotating the said suspensionrods to relatively adjust the ram with respect to said member. 8. Apress of the character described embodying a crank shaft, a reciprocablemember on one side of the shaft, a connecting rod between said memberand shaft, a reciprocable ram on the other side of the crank shaft,vertical suspension rods connecting the ram with said member, said rodsbeing rotatably supported by one and having threaded connection with theother, whereby the position of said ram with respect to said member may7 be varied, and means common to said suspension rods for simultaneouslyrotating them to relatively adjust the ram with respect to said member.

9. A press of the character described embodying a reciprocable support,a reciprocable ram spaced therebelow, suspension rods rotatablyconnected with one and having adjustable connection with the otherwhereby upon the operation of the rods the relative positions of themember and ram may be varied, a crank shaft between said ram and member,and a connecting rod between the crank and said member.

10. A press of the character described embodying a reciprocable support,a reciprocable ram spaced therebelow, suspension rods rotatablyconnected with one and having adjustable connectionwith the otherwhereby upon the operation of the rods the relative positions of themember and ram may be varied, a crank shaft between said ram and member,a connecting rod between the crank and said member, and means common tothe suspension rods for simultaneously operating them to effect the saidrelative adjustment of the ram and said member.

11. A press of the character described embodying a reciprocable ramhaving a fixed throw, a crank shaft, a connecting rod between said shaftand ram, and means whereby when the movement of the ram by the crank isarrested, the crank Will continue in its same direction of movement andindependently of the ram, the said means embodying an elementdestructible under the stress exerted by the resistance to the movementof the ram.

12. A press of the character described embodying a reciprocable ram, acrank shaft, a rod connection between the crank and shaft, saidconnection embodying separable co-opcrating elements, means securingsaid ele- -ments together, the said means being rendered inactive underthe stress created by resistance to the movement of the ram by saidcrank before the ram reaches the limit of its operative movement by thecrank, and resilien t means for maintaining the said elements inproximityto each other when the first said means is rendered inactive.

13. A power press provided with a work supporting surface, areciprocable ram, guiding means for the ram, a die connected with saidram, driving inechanism for the ram, means operatively connecting theram with the said driving mechanism, the said connecting means disposedentirely above the activeface of the die and operating to exert pressurefrom the said driving means upon ing means for the ram, a die connectedwith said ram, driving mechanism for the ram-, means operativelyconnecting the ram with 1 the said driving mechanism, the said connect 1ing means being disposed entirely above the active face of the die andoperating to exert pressure from the said driving means upon the ram atseparated points on opposite sides of a center line intermediate andparallel with the front and rear edges of the ram, means other than thesaid guiding means for maintaining the ram against tilting movement,whereby the lower face of the ram will be always maintained in itsoriginally set position with respect to the said supporting surface inany position of the ram during the cycle of operation of the press.

15. A power press provided with a work supporting surface, areciprocable ram, guiding means for the ram, a die connected with thesaid ram, driving mechanism for the ram, means operatively connectingwith the said driving mechanism, the said connecting means beingdisposed entirely above the active face of the die and operating toexert pressure from the same driving means upon the ram at four pointsspaced from each other, means otherthan said guiding means formaintaining 'the'ram against tilting movement, whereby the lower face ofthe ram will always be maintained in its originally adjusted positionwith respect to the said supportlng surface in any position of the ramduring the cycle of operation oithe press, and means for varying at willthe distance be tween the said work supporting surface and the activeface of s'aiddie.

16. A power press provided with a work supporting surface, areciprocable raml guiding means for the ram, a die connected with thesaid ram. driving mechanism for ram, means operatively connecting theram with the said driving mechanism, the said connecting means beingdisposed entirely above the active face of the die and operating toexert pressure from the said driving means upon the ram at four pointsspaced from each other, means other-than the said driving means formaintaining the rain against tilting movement, wherebv the lower face ofthe ram will be alwavs maintained in its originally adjusted positionwith respectto the said supporting surface in any position of the ramduring the cycle of operation of the press, and means whereby thedistance between the lower face of said die with respect to the drivingmechanism may be varied at Will.

U 17. A power press provided with a work supporting surface, areciprocable ram, guiding means for the ram, a die connected with saidram, driving mechanism for the ram, means operatively connecting the ramwith the said driving mechanism, the said connecting means beingdisposed entirely above the activeface of the die and operating to exertpressure ifro mthe said driving means upon th am atseparated points onopposite sides er line gintermediate and parallel w he'i front and rearedges. of the ram,

means other than the said guiding means for maintaining the ram and thesaid connecting means against tilting movement, whereby the lower faceof the ram will be always maintainedin its originally set position withrespect to the said supporting surface in any position of the ram duringthe cycle of operation of the press.

18. A power press provided with a work supporting surface, areciprocable ram, guiding means for the ram, a die connected with thesaid ram, driving mechanism for the ram, means operatlvely connectingthe ram wlth the said driving mechanism, the said connect ing meansbeing disposed entirely above the active face of the die, and operatingto exert pressure from the said driving means upon the ram at fourpoints spaced from each other, means other than the said guiding meansfor maintaining the ram and the said connecting means against tiltingmovement, whereby the lower face of the ram will be always maintained inits originally adjusted position with respect to the said supportingsurface in any position of the ram during the cycle of operation of thepress, and means whereby the distance between the lower face of the saiddie with respect to thedriving mechanism may beyaried at will.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, onthis 1st day. of

